Mary O’Sullivan

Encore Executive Coaching

Posted
Monday, February 20, 2017 4:00 pm

Mary O’Sullivan wants to help local businesses succeed. Her business, Encore Executive Coaching, has a 100% track record of supporting businesses and private clients to identify and achieve their goals. “We often get caught up in our frustrations, losing the ability to gain the perspective needed to work through challenging issues,” she says. “I coach clients by helping them articulate their problems and lead them to a path with solutions.”

Coming Full CircleMary’s diverse academic and professional background is rooted in creative problem solving. Having shifted her career more than once, she’s had the unique opportunity to gain valuable insight on the determination required to embrace change. She began her 30-year career in industry as a high school teacher. Ten years later, Mary pursued a position in the corporate world at General Electric then later in the defense industry at Lockheed Martin. A new role at Raytheon brought her to Rhode Island in 2001. Throughout it all, Mary thrived in various management roles. “I was in positions where I was a change agent, moving teams and individuals from the status quo to new ways of thinking,” she explains. Her positive mindset allowed her to see a voluntary layoff as her biggest opportunity yet: to start her own executive coaching business. A lifelong learner with a Bachelors in English, Mary continued her education and received a Masters in Organizational Leadership, a Graduate Certificate in Executive and Professional Coaching and a certification from the International Coach Federation. Her professional journey had come full circle, with Mary combining intensive training and her dynamic experience with her passion for teaching. “I am a believer in second chances,” she says. “I created Encore Executive Coaching to help people find their own career encores.”

Clearing the PathHaving coached dozens of professionals and businesses in Rhode Island, Mary often encounters a common workplace issue. “I’ve learned that one of the major obstacles to success is finding and maintaining the right employees,” she says. “No matter how large or small, every business has a culture. I find that many businesses lack a defined culture that engages employees.” Mary helps businesses align their teams with her research-based, results driven, yet practical Team Performance Program. Her effective approach assesses unresolved issues and provides a vision to make improvements in communication, organization and teamwork. “I empower the leadership team by clarifying its mission, vision, values and goals, all by proven research. My goal is to help them improve productivity and morale by helping individuals become better team members,” she says. Working closely with the business’s leadership team, she helps to find strategies to improve employee engagement, as well as support leader development. “When companies invest in coaching and in their own people, it has a positive impact on the bottom line.” Mary, who lives in Kingston with her husband, recently celebrated a ribbon opening ceremony at her office at the Lafayette Mill Complex in North Kingstown. “It’s my mission to use my experience, background and education to help businesses and individuals learn what it takes to lead, manage their risks, recognize opportunities and act strategically,” she says.